Hipkins’ claims over dirty collusion doubted

Chris Hipkins has already put new Labaour leader in an awkward position over his asking questions on citizenship on behalf of the Australian Labor party. Ardern has publicly reprimanded Hipkins.

This has lead to a political spat with the Austrian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, slamming Labour here for (allegedly) trying to interfere with the Australian government. The coalition that Bishop is a part of has a bare 1 seat majority, and if Barnaby Joyce is forced to resign over a ridiculous constitution technicality a by-election would make things difficult there.

Ardern has snapped back strongly, alleging that Bishop had made false accusations. So far Ardern has appeared to deal with things pretty well – much better than Bishop handled the pronunciation of Ardern’s name.

But there could be more problems for Ardern, for NZ Labour, and especially for Hipkins.

Journalists don’t believe his denial he knew what was behind the request from Australia ask questions here about Joyce’s citizenship.

Hipkins appears to want us to believe he asked questions on behalf of Australian Labour acquaintances without knowing it had anything to do with Joyce.

It is questionable enough that Hipkins tried to stir up dirt against a bare majority government. It is very difficult to believe he would do this without knowing what was behind it.

Chris Hipkins didn't know his comrades in Aussie were inquiring about the Australian deputy PM, yeah right! pic.twitter.com/aQp4fhVNyy

Mr Hipkins’ involvement has now led to a diplomatic spat between the Australian government and the New Zealand Labour Party.

In federal parliament in Canberra this afternoon, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused the Australian Labor Party and its New Zealand counterpart of collusion.

“No one’s ever doubted the loyalty of the Deputy Prime Minister to Australia, but what about the leader of the opposition, conspiring with the Labour Party of New Zealand to undermine the government of Australia?”

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said she had reprimanded her MP, but Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said this afternoon it would be difficult to trust a Labour-led New Zealand government.

Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Mrs Bishop said she was disappointed.

“New Zealand is facing an election, should there be a change of government I would find it very hard to build trust with those involved in allegations designed to undermine the government of Australia.”

She said Australian Labor leader Bill Shorten used a foreign political party to raise questions which were deliberately designed to undermine the Australian government.

Ms Ardern came out swinging in response, saying in a statement it was “highly regrettable” that Ms Bishop had “chosen to make false claims about the New Zealand Labour Party”.

“I have been utterly transparent about this situation. I stand by my statements this morning that I knew absolutely nothing about the Barnaby Joyce case until it broke in the media yesterday afternoon,” Ms Ardern said.

Corky

Oh, that Julie Bishop, Arty. What a women. One of them strong bristle-backed Aussie Shelia’s.
l
Although I’m a great fan of yours I doubt you would have time to draw before your knackers were dangling from a hitching post.

Blazer

‘“New Zealand Minister Peter Dunne has since confirmed it was questions by Fairfax journalists, and not the question on notice, which led to the outing of Mr Joyce as a New Zealand citizen,” Senator Wong said’

Gezza

duperez

Yep, I’m putting this up there with crime of the century.
Looking on the positive side of it, you say Ardern’s learned where to find a useful idiot if she needs one. She clearly has no need to search for useless ones, they are announcing themselves daily, in abundance. 😊

Corky

All you have to do is wait and let Labour shoot themselves in the feet. Special thanks to the lodge and and work they did behind the scenes.

I listened to JA’s press conference and was impressed by the way she presented. However, I have trouble believing NZ Labour was just an innocent victim caught up in Hipkins machinations. I think either JA or Hipkins or both are telling porkies.

Lucky for Labour many of their new support will be none the wiser about these events. They don’t watch the news,

Unfortunately this good news for National is tainted by the fact National and Act are in the political wilderness regarding Pike River after all other parties banded together and promised a manned re-entry should they come to power.

I said at the time Pike River was the biggest political mistake National have made. I still believe that.

Missy

Gezza

Big need for them to run an immediate programme to check every Parliamentarian & political candidate for any rogue additional citizenships they might unknowingly have then, so that any in that situation can make a big thing about insulting that country by loudly & publicly renouncing that citizenship, & waving their renunciation papers about, & shouting “Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie, oi, oi, oi” – and then Julie won’t have to go on tv & put on the bitchface & everyone will know they’re not actually all a bunch of arrogant arseholes over there.

Missy

I believe they are looking into a number of representatives that they believe may have dual citizenship. They could of course solve the problem the way NZ Labour Govt did and just change the law and make it retrospective.

G, I don’t appreciate the comment about Julie Bishop you made. The term ‘bitchface’ is usually only used in relation to women in an insulting and sexist way, it is below you – that is more Blazer’s territory. She doesn’t always come across well, but from people I know who work for DFAT in Aus, whilst some don’t like her (mainly because she is very frugal and stopped their business class travel), most have a lot of respect for her as a Minister. She is (from all accounts) very good at her job.

What she said re: A NZ Labour Govt was a message I believe – don’t interfere in Australian domestic politics, and she has a point.

Gezza

Missy

Not sure, but I think you do have to apply for UK citizenship if I remember correctly. I used to work with a Brit who had NZ born children, and I think he had to make an application via the High Commission in Wellington to get them citizenship. Also, I think it used to be (may have changed), that UK citizenship only comes via the father – could be wrong on that though.

artcroft

Gezza

That’s true in a way. Aussie politics is a sewer few people should jump into without serious & very careful consideration. On the other hand, if you let them wipe their arses with you, they might end up giving you their highest award.

High Flying Duck

Helen agreed to the new rules stopping benefits and curtailing rights and turned down alternative options.
JK didn’t get them reversed but he was hardly a cheerleader.
You seem to be blaming the latter for decisions made or caused by the former.

High Flying Duck

Helen agreed to the new rules stopping benefits and curtailing rights and turned down alternative options.
JK didn’t get them reversed but he was hardly a cheerleader.
You seem to be blaming the latter for decisions made or caused by the former.

Kitty Catkin

It is marketed as a pheromone that makes the wearer have an aura of trustworthiness. At no time did I say that it made them trustworthy-dream on-but if the wearer still has to work hard at their persona, the oxytocin is surely a waste of money.

If only one person in 100,000 has heard of it, it can’t be very successful.

Kitty Catkin

Kitty Catkin

I am wearing oxytocin so I am very trustworthy.My name is Mr Con Mannelo and I work for Nigerian Bank of Commerce. I have access to an estate of $3,974,000 but need an overseas contact with a bank account in order to…..

Blazer

Kitty Catkin

No, I don’t, no MP is likely to take that risk & anyone who asks them to take a bribe would probably be in for a very nasty surprise. The bribe would have to be so enormous to make it worth the MP/Minister/Pm’s while that it’s hard to imagine who would be that stupid.

You don’t seem to know how lobbying works. Any suggestion of bribery would soon be picked up.

The issue here for Jacinda is she now looks NOT in control of her caucus. It looks like a senior figure in the shadow cabinet doesn’t know what he is doing. It looks like Jacinda has a problem as she can’t trust her key players to be disciplined and competent.

National will use those little impressions to drive home the inexperience of the new LOTO….

First slippery surface encountered following a very smooth coup which disenfranchised the Labour rank and file and the major players the Unions… Political coups are supported if the new leader is competent and go forward… any weakness appearing will be exploit by opponents and sow uncertainty in the coup supporters..